Ophthalmology

Our eyes are not only “the windows to our soul,” but are amazing organs employing physics, chemistry, and mechanics inside the two eyeballs of our face. The process of how we “observe” and “see light,” is amongst the most wondrous paradigms in clinical medicine. Photochemical reactions in our retina, lead to brain signals which are interpreted as sight. This is aided by amazing autonomic movement of musculature to focus our binocular vision to provide depth of field and breadth of vision. In an instant, our eyes and brain can pivot from examining excruciating detail close up, to switching to long distance vision of many miles, something only telephoto lenses can achieve in industry.

Our eyes unfortunately can be injured, wear out, suffer infection, inflammation. Important elements such as the lens get cloudy as we age (cataracts), our retinas can detach, and photochemical part can be damaged by degradation of the macula or elevated blood pressure to the eye can induce glaucoma. Any of these impact our quality of life by reducing our most important and most valuable sense.

Athena supports ophthalmology investigation and treatment with intravenous agents which enable clinical ophthalmologists identify and treat tumours and observe the eye in detail when seeking to diagnose and provide therapy for vision related problems. Vizudyne® is one such agent used in the administration of photodynamic therapy by clinical ocular specialists.